Wheezing

About the Symptom

Wheezing is a high-pitched, coarse whistling sound made during breathing when the airway is partially blocked.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Wheezing

Possible Causes

Generally, Wheezing can be related to:

• Tracheomalacia

  Tracheomalacia literally translates to floppy airway (trachea) and happens when the tissues of the airway instead of being rigid and stiff, are weak and floppy, causing breathing difficulties. This can be due to intrinsic issues with tissues (cartilage) of the windpipe (trachea) itself or due to something in the chest pushing on the airway such as a blood vessel. As there are highly variable severities and types of tracheomalacia, the symptoms vary greatly as well.

• Vascular Ring

  A vascular ring is a malformation of the aortic arch, which is the main blood vessel leading from the heart. Due to this malformation, the aortic arch and its branches may partially or completely encircle the windpipe (trachea), the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach), or both, causing breathing and digestive issues.

• Laryngomalacia

  Laryngomalacia literally translates to floppy voice box (larynx). The laryngeal structure is malformed and floppy, causing the tissues to fall over the airway opening and partially block it. It often presents shortly after birth with noisy breathing (stridor) and in severe cases can result in poor weight gain. Of note, there are many other reasons for neonates to have stridor and these conditions should be evaluated by a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and make sure it is nothing more serious.

• Sarcoidosis (Including Erythema Nodosum-Like Eruption)
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
• Viral Bronchiolitis

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Wheezing may be related to these serious diseases:

• Foreign Body in Bronchus

  Foreign bodies can become lodged in the airway. The trachea, or windpipe, is part of the airway and divides into the right and left bronchus, which connect to the lungs.

• Bronchial Asthma
• Anaphylaxis

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you experience wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing?
• When did you first notice wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing?
• How often do you experience wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing?
• How are your wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing now?

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